Queen's speech lays out plans to tackle terrorism and crime

As set put in the Queen's Speech, Prime Minister Tony Blair's final term in office will focus on tackling crime and terrorism.

Plans to put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system and push ahead with the development of ID cards were at the centre of the programme of legislation laid out in the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament.

Measure to deal with climate change, proposals for greater powers for the immigration service and long-term reform of the pension system were also among the 29 bills revealed during the speech.

Bills announced in the speech included: a Bill to provide the immigration system

There were also plans for changes to further education, an improved child support system and measures to tackle road congestion and offer better public transport.

Downing Street said that the speech was for "the aspiring majority, the law-abiding, the victims of crime, the vulnerable and for the benefit of future generations."

However, both Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell accused Mr Blair of delivering the same promises that he had in previous years.

Mr Cameron told MPs that all the plans had been heard before, saying that Mr Blair had "promised so much and... delivered so little".

Sir Menzies said: "After nearly ten years in office, the government and the Prime Minister are still chasing the same elusive goals and the same elusive headlines. This is a Prime Minister trying to legislate his way into history."

The Queen’s Speech takes place once a year and forms the central part of the State Opening of Parliament. It is delivered by the Queen in the House of Lords and then debated by both houses.

Mr Blair is expected to step down as Prime Minister before next September, with Chancellor Gordon Brown widely expected to be his successor.

(KMcA)